Bosch heroics send Saracens through to semi-finals

Marcelo Bosh kicked a last-gasp penalty to put Saracens through to the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup with a 12-11 victory at Racing Metro on Sunday.

Having seen Bath succumb to Leinster and Northampton Saints demolished 37-5 by Clermont-Auvergne in Saturday's quarter-finals, the pressure was very much on Saracens to help carry the flag for the Premiership.

Yet they looked set to exit the competition when Maxime Machenaud - who scored all of Racing's points - gave the hosts a two-point lead with his second penalty 10 minutes from time.

There was one final twist in the tale, though, as Bosch slotted the ball between the posts from 45 yards in the 80th minute to ensure Saracens' place in the last four against Clermont.

Charlie Hodgson's fifth-minute penalty gave Saracens an early lead, but the visitors lived dangerously in the first half at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir.

Racing were unfortunate not to cross for the first try when Camille Gerondeau lost control of the ball as he crashed over the line from a rolling maul.

But, after Saracens lock Jim Hamilton had been sin-binned for deliberately stopping a maul, Racing got their reward as scrum-half Machenaud darted over, although Johnny Sexton's conversion cannoned off the upright.

Saracens eventually slowed the Racing onslaught but saw Hodgson waste two chances to re-establish their advantage before the fly-half knocked through a second three-pointer on the stroke of half-time.

Alex Goode extended the gap to four points seven minutes after the restart, yet Saracens were lucky not to fall behind when Juan Imhoff spilt Alexandre Dumoulin's pass with the line in sight following a break from Brice Dulin.

The hosts continued to pile on the pressure, though, and their persistence paid off, with Machenaud's boot restoring Racing's lead.

Machenaud made it a one-point game after Billy Vunipola was penalised for a ruck infringement, and then split the uprights once more to put Racing on the brink of progression, capitalising on indiscipline at the scrum from Saracens.

With time ticking away, Racing lost their composure when in possession and were penalised for going off their feet at a ruck, allowing Bosch to coolly step up and send Saracens through.

Fellow Premiership side Wasps play Toulon in the late game and will hope to follow Saracens through.